Computer-fu: I don’t want to restart Windows XP right now
Microsoft really wants to make sure have all the latest security updates for your comp: the default settings have the computer automatically download and install your security patches. And when that gets finished, Windows prompts you every 10 minutes “Do you want to restart your computer now?”
Now, if you’re in the middle of doing something on the computer (which you are, because you’re reading the blasted message), you choose “Restart Later”. 10 minutes later, it asks you again. This may start to get a smidgeon annoying.
But you have the power to change how often it pops up (or even eliminate it altogether):
1. Click the Start button, then Run (for those of you who speak keyboard shortcuts, it’s Windows key + R)
2. Type gpedit.msc in the box and hit enter.
3. You’ll see a window titled “Group Policy”. Open the folders as follows:
Local Computer Policy
+ Computer Configuration
+ Administrative Templates
+ Windows Components
Windows Update
4. The setting we want is “Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations”. (If no one’s messed with it, the state will say “Not configured”, which defaults to showing the restart message every 10 minutes.)
Double-click to open.
5. Select the “Enabled” button, and fill in the box with the delay in minutes before the restart box will pop up, and click “OK”. Or you can disable it if you never want to see it again.
HEE YAH! apparently I do not have administrative privileges so I had to restart anyway. it’s ok. good excuse for long bathroom break.
Comment by annie | 14 December 2007
Oh, yeah, it would have been good to mention you need admin privileges…
Hope you enjoyed your long bathroom break.
Comment by Donnie | 14 December 2007
I hope I remember to do this Monday at work…
Comment by gorckat | 14 December 2007
Oh how annoying that was. I eventually caved in and pushed ‘restart’ and my computer didn’t restart. Sweet design.
Comment by Blue Devil Knight | 14 December 2007
It drives me nuts that Windows and most apps want to always hold my hand. I turned Automatic Update off through the Control Panel, but now my new version of Norton AV warns me that I have it turned off every time I start up. I wish they made an OS for computer savvy adults. Some people say that is Linux, but I’m not convinced.
Comment by Carson | 14 December 2007
Sweet!
I personally have turned off updating altogether. I’m sick of it. I think I just updated to SP2 and then turned it off completely. Then there’s the whole annoying red shield with a huge X in the middle glaring at you from the system tray, which strangely makes you feel bad or guilty or dumb for not updating.
First, turning off auto updates:
Ctrl Panel > Windows Security Center
And then to make it stop nagging you to update:
In the left-hand side of the Security Center window is a list of Resources. Click on “Change the way Security Center alerts me”, and uncheck the Automatic Updates box.
Use at your own risk.
Comment by Sworn Enemy :) | 15 December 2007
@gorckat: So you’re fortunate to have the rights on your work computer? Pretty nice.
@BDK: And XP is supposed to be better than Vista…
@Carson: They try to accommodate the lowest common denominator…which, yes, I feel your frustration.
As for Linux? You may want to give it a shot, if you’re willing to sacrifice software availability.
@Sworn Enemy: You don’t even bother with the critical updates anymore?
Comment by Donnie | 17 December 2007
@gorckat: So you’re fortunate to have the rights on your work computer? Pretty nice.
Yeah. Stupid state of Maryland
The PC is owned by and supposedly managed by the state, but besides popping in once a year to make sure its still here, they don’t do anything.
I also had the ‘rights’ to spend two weeks May 2006 scraping spyware and viruses off my PC after the state tech support told me to try Google’s pop-up blocker and if that didn’t work then they might come out, they might not to do a restore.
Comment by gorckat | 18 December 2007
Um…so their logic was “Use Google pop-up blocker; that’s pretty much the same thing as an anti-virus program”? Good grief, man. I don’t know whether to feel bad for you b/c of sorry tech support, or jealous b/c you can get away with stuff and no one will know.
Comment by Donnie | 18 December 2007
I hate to think what portion of the state gorckat works for… their network must be overrun with viruses. Is it the DMV? Do licensing records go missing every now and then…
Comment by Allen | 18 December 2007
This is useful stuff, Egg. Many thanks.
Apropos of the “software availability” issue with Linux, I have it too. I develop real-time simulations for military purposes. Time after time, despite the performance advantages of UNIX / Linux, I’ve found myself ethically compelled to choose an Intel / Windows host, because the complete toolchain, from editor through compiler, support technology, linker, debugger, profiler, and version control system, is what matters. I have yet to find a C++ / GUI development environment superior to Microsoft’s Visual Studio V6.0. If such a thing were available under Linux, with MFC-like support for X Window / Motif program development, I’d switch in a heartbeat. But development software for Linux that compares to Visual Studio / MFC hasn’t yet come to light.
Comment by Francis W. Porretto | 22 December 2007
@Allen: Missing records may not be a bad thing depending on your history.
@Francis: Your job sounds nifty, expect a little too much like work.
I haven’t touched Linux in a decade, and that was in school. There’s simply not been a use for it in my few stops in the real world. VI editor, baby!
Comment by Donnie | 24 December 2007